My Barbie Story: The Story of a Cultural Icon

For more than six decades, Barbie has captivated the world with her many careers, fabulous fashions and ability to inspire. My Barbie Story , dedicated to the iconic doll’s 65-year legacy, brings together inspiring people as they share what Barbie has meant to them over the years.

Created in 1959 by Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler, the first Barbie —known as the “Barbie Teenage Fashion Model”—debuted at the New York Toy Fair. Inspired by the German doll Bild Lilli, Barbie was born in a context where toys for girls were limited mainly to baby dolls and household objects. Ruth Handler wanted to create a doll that would provide young girls with an adult lifestyle model. This revolutionary idea allowed Barbie to embody new roles and ambitions for young girls of the time.

Barbie has evolved to reflect the trends, ideals, and aspirations of different eras. In the 1960s, she wore elegant dresses and embodied archetypes of glamorous femininity. Over time, she has embraced varied roles, becoming an astronaut in 1965, a doctor in 1973, a presidential candidate in 1992, and a robotics engineer in 2018.

This evolution shows how Barbie has become a symbol of female emancipation, but is also a mirror of our society and the values that drive us. Proof of this is the book My Barbie Story , composed of 108 personal stories and photos of celebrities, fans, ambassadors, role models and collectors. In France, several personalities and friends of Barbie had the opportunity to participate in the project, like the Michelin-starred chef and French Barbie role model in 2019 Hélène Darroze , the boxing champion and French Barbie role model 2024 Estelle Mossely , the Barbie 2023 ambassador for diversity Eléonore Laloux , the founder of the Roseanna brand Anne-Fleur Broudehoux , the collector and creator of the Barbie convention in France Cathy Moreau , the collector Éric Chatillon , and finally the content creator Maureen Piesset .

Estelle Mossely shares a personal and profound look at the impact of the Barbie doll, through her childhood memories and her current role as an inspiring role model. Her first memory of Barbie is filled with sincere emotion: "My first memory with Barbie, I was very little, it was at Christmas when I got my first Barbie. I had always dreamed of having one." This unique moment when she received her first doll, a Barbie "with a big red dress very festive", symbolizes for her a first aspiration towards a dream world.

As she grew up, Estelle noted how Barbie evolved to reflect a diversity that was lacking in her time: "There were a lot of dolls of color that appeared, it was an additional way to identify with Barbie when you are mixed race." She sees in this evolution a more inclusive and inspiring representation of today's women, who "are not confined to a single role" but instead embody a plurality of values and possibilities.

For Estelle, Barbie is more than just a doll, she is an inspiring role model: "She represents modernity, current, inspiring women. A Woman with a capital W who is capable of inspiring and being inspired." By participating in the book My Barbie Story , she wants to convey this idea of a woman accomplished in all areas. She herself embodies this message by continuing her career as a champion while having started a family: "It shows that a woman today can have a family life and pursue her professional ambitions. It just takes organization."

Being chosen as the French Barbie role model for 2024 represents a significant recognition for her. "I am flattered to be a Barbie role model," she confides. She sees this mission as an opportunity to inspire young people, to sweep away prejudices and to convey positive messages. "This is fully in line with the actions that I carry out alongside my sports practice," she specifies, reflecting her commitment to becoming a source of inspiration for young people.

As for the future, Estelle dreams of seeing a French Barbie embodying a female president of the Republic, "a first in France" . She hopes that such a figure could inspire significant advances for women in politics and society: "It would be a huge step for the advancement of women. Embodying power, positions, decision-making."

Estelle Mossely , through her career and her commitment, perfectly embodies the evolution of Barbie , symbol of a modern, strong and determined woman, capable of achieving her ambitions without compromise. For her, Barbie is more than a toy, she is a model of what today's woman can be, resolutely turned towards a future of diversity and equality.

Anne-Fleur Broudehoux , creator of the Roseanna brand, shares a vision marked by nostalgia and admiration for the Barbie doll, which spanned her childhood and remains a timeless icon for her. Her first memory of Barbie dates back to a "perfect Christmas evening at [her] grandmother's in the 80s" , where she remembers being captivated by "every detail of the outfit" , a moment full of magic and dreams. Her first Barbie , "an iconic blonde in a pop music star outfit" , is for her the symbol of the era, of audacity and glamour.

For Anne-Fleur, Barbie is much more than a doll: she represents "the free and bold woman who embraces her femininity and lives her life intensely" . She sees in her a model of freedom and feminine power, essential values that she associates with this icon. She also recognizes the complexity of Barbie 's image, which remains "one of the most popular toys in the world" while being "a most controversial icon". According to her, Barbie has objectively contributed to changing the condition of women, by offering new and inspiring perspectives to young girls since the 1960s.

Her participation in the book My Barbie Story is a way for her to celebrate this legacy and pay tribute to an icon who "resonates with current social issues." By participating in this project, she wants to remind all generations that it is possible to "dream big, imagine your life and live it intensely." It is this bold vision of femininity and freedom that the designer wanted to express through the Roseanna x Barbie collaboration , a three-piece collection that blurs the boundaries between masculine and feminine. The silhouette includes a two-material teddy, a unisex t-shirt adorned with the Barbie logo in relief and boyfriend pants with a bold cut. "I love the idea of celebrating this anniversary," she says, while affirming Barbie 's spirit of emancipation and freedom.

Among the pieces in this collaboration, Anne-Fleur has a special favorite for the teddy, a nod to the varsity jacket. Made from navy wool and cashmere with ecru vinyl sleeves, this teddy is completed with the Barbie logo embroidered in pink, bringing "a twist of freshness" to the piece, and perfectly embodying Barbie 's boldness and unique style. This collection, like its creator, is a vibrant tribute to the free and modern femininity that Barbie represents, and a reminder of the infinite possibilities that she embodies for all generations of women.

My Barbie Story, limited edition, €35